After three fairly even rounds, Love (15-0, 8 KOs), of Las Vegas, Nev., by way of Detroit, staggered Findley with a series of fourth-round combinations that opened up a cut under Findley’s right eye. Findley (20-9, 13 KOs), of Gary, Ind., seemed like he might survive the round, but he bounced back and survived.

In the tenth, Love, pushed past the eighth round for the first time in his career, kept the pressure on and closed strong with a steady dose of right hands and shots to the body.

“It was a tough learning experience,” Love said. “Derrick Findley is a tough fighter, but we asked for Derrick Findley. We asked for a tough fighter. I’d rather have a tough fighter on my resume than some slouch.

“He was very, very aggressive. He gave me some close rounds. but keeping your composure and sticking to the game plan is what I learned.”

The 25-year-old Love had his promoter Mayweather also working as his trainer between rounds in the absence of his usual trainer Roger Mayweather for what proved to be the toughest fight of his career.

“He knows the experience and he knows what I’m going through so there’s nobody better than that,” Love said.

Findley, 28, complained that he got caught with a thumb in his eye early in the bout and that affected his vision.

“I couldn’t’ see after that,” Findley said. “He can’t punch. If he could, I wouldn’t’ have gone forward like I did, but no excuses, he’s the better man tonight.”

Said Mayweather: “It was rough fight. We chose Findley because he’s a rough fighter, but when J’Leon faces a tough fight later on down the road, he’ll be ready for that.”

The fight, along with the Ishe Smith- Conrnelius Bundrage main event, will replay at Showtime on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. ET/PT, on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on